Hatter&#39;s cone



Sept. 23, 1930. G. H, NEwLANDrv AL 1,776,699

HATTER S GONE- Filad June 13, 1929 Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE n. nEwLAivn AND WILLIAM H. woon, or nANBuRY, CONNECTICUT I-IA'ITERS GONE Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to a hatters cone,

and has for an object to provide an improved construction of cone which is not as liable to injury in handling as the construction now a generally in use;'which is not likely to become destroyed or put out of commission by the acids used in the treatment of the fur; which will be lighter in weight for the same strength, so can be more easily handled and with less fatigue by the operator; which wili prevent loss of fur as this is a serious objection to the old construction; and which may be repaired at less cost.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as will be more fully disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing,

Fig. '1 is a partial side elevation and partial section of a former shown somewhat diagramatically with our improved construction of cone in position.

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation and partial section of our improved cone on a somewhat larger scale, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In hat forming machines as is well known, the fur is blown or fed into an enclosed chamber where it settles on a perforated metal cone, usually of copper, the interior of which cone is connected to a suitable suction device which by drawing air through the cone draws the fur to the surface of the cone where the fur felts together, and after the deposit of fur has become sufficiently thick it is removed from the cone and given various treatments to form the hat. In the present drawing we have shown somewhat diagrammatically a former comprising a hollow base portion 10 connected to a suitable suction device 11. On the top of this base is a platform 12 mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane on any suitable means as ball bearings 13. This platform 12 is in the form of a ring so as to provide an opening 14 and has a groove 15 in its upper surface to receive the lower edge of the cone.

The cone comprises an upright perforated body 16 of sheet metal, usually copper with 1929. Serial No. 370,679.

its surface provided with perforations 17, this body being substantially cone shape as shown.

It is desirable this cone be made of as thin metal as possible to reduce its cost and also weight as these cones are of considerable size, being from 24: to 30 inches high and about 16 to 18 inches in diameter at their lower ends.

They are strengthened at their larger or lower ends by a hoop 18, which is a tapered hoop to correspond with the taper of the cone and is a band of metal considerably thicker than that of the body of the cone, and is usually of brass or copper. The edges of the section of the body are brazed together at 19 with a butt joint so that the cone is substantially in one piece. 7 The hoop or band 18 is brazed to the lower,

larger end of the body and extends below the trance of the acids such as the carrot used for treating the fur. The free ends of the band were connected by a riveted and soldered lapped joint, and the lapped portions of the bead folded about the ring made a pro jection at the lower edge of the band. There are several objections to this construction.

' lower edge thereof, and forms a strengthen- First the wrapping of the metal of the band around the ring, usually done by hammering it over and around the ring, strained the metal so that in the rough handlingincident to its use the metal cracked permitting the acids to enter and corrode the ring. Also it was difficult to keep the lapped joint from cracking or opening and permitting entrance of acids. The only waythis ring could be renewed was tocut off the old bead, applying a new ring and rolling over a new head about the new ring. This involved considerable work and reduced the height of the cone. Also the projection of the lower edge of the cone formed by the lapped joint held the lower edge of the cone above the surface of the platform 12, thus forming passages on the opposite sides of this lapped joint under the edge of the cone through which fur was drawn by the suction, causing a material loss of fur. This cone is also relatively heavy. Broken or cracked sections of the bead could be repaired by cutting out a piece of the band and putting in a new one, but this required overlapping joints giving the objectionable projection at the lower edge of the'cone causing loss of fur.

e over-come these objections by the construction shown. The band or hoop 18 is left straight so that the metal is not strained in forming a folded over bead at its lower edge. It is brazed to the body 16 of the cone and the free ends of the band are secured together by a brazed butt joint 20 leaving a straight lower edge 21 lying all in the same plane. The band is strengthened by a heavy wire or rod ring 22, preferably of brass, or it can be some other metal not affected by the material used, which is wrapped around the band adjacent its lower edge and is soldered to the outer surface of the band as indicated at 23. It will be seen that the bead of the old form is thus done away with, and the lower edge of the cone is straight and in the same plane so that this lower edge contacts with the surface of the platform 12 throughout its entire periphery, so that there is no loss of fur caused by drawing of fur under the edge of the cone by the suction. The cone is also lighter in weight for the same strength so that it is cheaper to make as it requires less metal and less labor. to crack in use. These arematerial features as these cones are subjected torather rough handling, because they are lifted and thrown or dropped on the floor to one. side by the operator, and the weight is also a material feature as being less fatiguingto the opera- .tor. If it is necessary to renew the ring 22 it can be easily removed without cutting the band or shortening the cone in any way, and a new ring easily and quickly applied. Or if the band or hoop is cracked we can cut out the cracked section of fiat hoop and put in a new section and braze it to the old part by butt joints.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. A hatters cone comprising a tapered perforated sheet metal cone, a strengthening hoop for the larger end thereof comprising a. tapered sheet metal band embracing the larger end of the cone having substantially straight side walls for its entire width and connected. at its free ends by a brazed butt joint, and a nonferrous wire ring soldered directly to the outer surface of thehoop It is also less liable at the lower edge thereof so that it is not enclosed by the walls of the hoop.

2. A hatters cone comprising a tapered perforated sheet metal cone, a strengthening hoop for the larger end thereof comprising a tapered sheet metal band having substantiall straight sidewalls for its entire width embracing and brazed to the open end of the cone, the free ends of said band being connected together by a brazed buttjoint, and a nonferrous wire ring soldered directly to the surface of the hoop at the lower edge thereof so that it is otherwise exposed.

8. A hatters cone comprising a tapered perforated sheet metal body member, a strengthening hoop for the larger end thereof comprising a tapered sheet metal band embracing and brazed to theopen end of the body, said band having substantially straight side walls for its entire width with its lower free edge forming a base for the cone to seat on, the free ends of said band being connected together. by a brazed butt joint, and a wire ring soldered directly to the outer surface of said band at the lower edge thereof.

In testimony whereof, we aifix our signa- 

